Olaf Devik
Encyclopedia
Olaf Martin Devik was a Norwegian physicist and civil servant. He worked in academia until 1938, when he became an official in the Norwegian Ministry of Church and Education. After the German occupation of Norway, he fled the country and worked with its government in exile. After the war, he returned to the education ministry until his retirement.
as a son of headmaster Ole Gabriel Johnsen Devik (1856–1941) and Marthe Klausdatter Lønnebotn (1857–1929). His parents hailed from Gloppen
and Hyllestad
. He took the examen artium
at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1904, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the cand.real. degree in 1911. Already from 1908 he worked as an assistant of Vilhelm Bjerknes in geophysics
and meteorology
. He was an assistant of Kristian Birkeland
from 1911, studied at the University of Heidelberg from 1913 to 1914 and was hired at the Royal Frederick University in 1914. From 1915 to 1918 he worked and lived at Haldde in Alta
, together with Ole Andreas Krogness
, who ran an aurora borealis observatory. The two successfully suggested the establishment of a geophysical institute in Tromsø
; both moved there to work in 1918. Their work culminated in the establishment of "Værvarslinga for Nord-Norge", the weather forecast of Northern Norway, in 1922.
In 1922 Devik was appointed as a docent in physics at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
. From 1923 to 1932 he held lectures in physics at Noregs lærarhøgskule. Together with school teacher Sverre Bruun he wrote textbooks for schools; Lærebok i fysikk for middelskolen (1928) and Lærebok i fysikk for realgymnasiet (1933). Their book was reissued many times, and competed with Daniel Isaachsen and Gabriel Gabrielsen Holtsmark
's Fysikk for gymnasiet. Bruun and Devik released Lærebok i fysikk for realskolen og de to første klassene i gymnaset (1939, later reissued) and Lærebok i fysikk for ungdomsskolen (1964, later reissued). In 1931 Devik published the thesis Thermische und dynamische Bedingungen der Eisbildung in Wasserläufen, which earned him the dr.philos. degree in 1932. In the same year he started working for the Chr. Michelsen Institute
.
and occupation of Norway
in April 1940, Devik continued at the request of Norway's pre-invasion government, but he was fired in 1941. He was offered a professorship, but declined and spent the next year as a freelance lecturer. In 1942 he was fired from that job too, and in 1943 he fled to the United Kingdom where he worked for the pre-invasion government-in-exile for the rest of the war. After the war he returned to the Ministry of Church and Education, retiring in 1956. The years saw the beginning of the huge growth in higher education in Norway. Among others, the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
, the University of Bergen
and SINTEF
were created.
While studying he chaired the Norwegian Christian Student Association for a semester. He was a board member of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1934. After the war he was a board member of the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
, and he was a member of NTNF from 1946 to 1959 and NAVF from 1949 to 1957. He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1928, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1932 and the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences from 1956. He was an honorary member of the society Norsk Geofysisk Forening, and published a small 50th anniversary history of the society in 1967 together with Peter Martin Thrane. He was appointed to the First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, as a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
and as a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
. He was married to Dagny Othilie Hansen (1892–1988) since July 1915, and died in April 1987 in Oslo.
Family and early life
Devik was born in GjerdrumGjerdrum
Gjerdrum is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike.-General information:Gjerdrum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
as a son of headmaster Ole Gabriel Johnsen Devik (1856–1941) and Marthe Klausdatter Lønnebotn (1857–1929). His parents hailed from Gloppen
Gloppen
Gloppen is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. Gloppen is generally subdivided into three areas: Hyen in the west, Gloppen in the center, and Breim in the east. Each of the areas have their own main service centres. ...
and Hyllestad
Hyllestad
Hyllestad is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Hyllestad is the village of Hyllestad....
. He took the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1904, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.real. degree in 1911. Already from 1908 he worked as an assistant of Vilhelm Bjerknes in geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
and meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
. He was an assistant of Kristian Birkeland
Kristian Birkeland
Kristian Olaf Birkeland was a Norwegian scientist. He is best remembered as the person who first elucidated the nature of the Aurora borealis. In order to fund his research on the aurorae, he invented the electromagnetic cannon and the Birkeland-Eyde process of fixing nitrogen from the air...
from 1911, studied at the University of Heidelberg from 1913 to 1914 and was hired at the Royal Frederick University in 1914. From 1915 to 1918 he worked and lived at Haldde in Alta
Alta, Norway
-Birdlife:For those interested in bird watching, the river outlet, known locally as Altaosen is well worth a visit. This tidal area is used as a stopover for many wetland species.-Transportation:...
, together with Ole Andreas Krogness
Ole Andreas Krogness
Ole Andreas Krogness was a Norwegian physicist. He worked for the establishment of a geophysical institute in Tromsø, and served as the institute's manager from 1918 to 1922...
, who ran an aurora borealis observatory. The two successfully suggested the establishment of a geophysical institute in Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
; both moved there to work in 1918. Their work culminated in the establishment of "Værvarslinga for Nord-Norge", the weather forecast of Northern Norway, in 1922.
In 1922 Devik was appointed as a docent in physics at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
. From 1923 to 1932 he held lectures in physics at Noregs lærarhøgskule. Together with school teacher Sverre Bruun he wrote textbooks for schools; Lærebok i fysikk for middelskolen (1928) and Lærebok i fysikk for realgymnasiet (1933). Their book was reissued many times, and competed with Daniel Isaachsen and Gabriel Gabrielsen Holtsmark
Gabriel Gabrielsen Holtsmark
Gabriel Gabrielsen Holtsmark was a Norwegian educator, physicist and actuary.-Personal life:He was born in Asker as a son of farmer and mayor Bent Holtsmark and his wife Anne Elisabeth Gabrielsen. He was a brother of Bernt, Torger and Wilhelm Holtsmark...
's Fysikk for gymnasiet. Bruun and Devik released Lærebok i fysikk for realskolen og de to første klassene i gymnaset (1939, later reissued) and Lærebok i fysikk for ungdomsskolen (1964, later reissued). In 1931 Devik published the thesis Thermische und dynamische Bedingungen der Eisbildung in Wasserläufen, which earned him the dr.philos. degree in 1932. In the same year he started working for the Chr. Michelsen Institute
Chr. Michelsen Institute
The Chr. Michelsen Institute was founded in 1930, and is currently the largest centre for development research in Scandinavia. CMI is an independent, non-profit research foundation for policy-oriented and applied development research. Headed by the director Ottar Mæstad, it employs 40 social...
.
Government service
In 1938 Devik left academia and became deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Church and Education. Following the German invasionOperation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupation of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
in April 1940, Devik continued at the request of Norway's pre-invasion government, but he was fired in 1941. He was offered a professorship, but declined and spent the next year as a freelance lecturer. In 1942 he was fired from that job too, and in 1943 he fled to the United Kingdom where he worked for the pre-invasion government-in-exile for the rest of the war. After the war he returned to the Ministry of Church and Education, retiring in 1956. The years saw the beginning of the huge growth in higher education in Norway. Among others, the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund is a government agency that provides loans and grants to Norwegian and certain foreign students for their education...
, the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
and SINTEF
SINTEF
SINTEF , headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia. Every year, SINTEF supports research and development at 2,000 or so Norwegian and overseas companies via its research and development activity....
were created.
While studying he chaired the Norwegian Christian Student Association for a semester. He was a board member of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1934. After the war he was a board member of the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
Foundation for Student Life in Oslo
The Foundation for Student Life in Oslo is the student welfare organisation in Oslo, Norway.It was established in 1939 as the first of its kind in Norway...
, and he was a member of NTNF from 1946 to 1959 and NAVF from 1949 to 1957. He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
from 1928, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1932 and the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences from 1956. He was an honorary member of the society Norsk Geofysisk Forening, and published a small 50th anniversary history of the society in 1967 together with Peter Martin Thrane. He was appointed to the First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, as a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
and as a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
. He was married to Dagny Othilie Hansen (1892–1988) since July 1915, and died in April 1987 in Oslo.